Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-21

comparable with the paralysis imposed upon
the northeast by the Baltimore and Ohio.
general but OF local advantages, and IT, in fndivid
ual cases, damage has been wrought and personal
t pss ana IN imposed Is Simply
and OF the necessities OF traf1ic and commerce. in
the presence OF which individual and separate In
terests must yield TO the public need and welfare.
IL does now follow. however that because the
vices OF a great private corporation are necessary
tnat Que regulation OF that service and the re-
strctlOn OF privileges TO such needful there
TO and In conformity with the public requirements,
should be omitted. 1t is but Just TO the Baltimore
and Potomac TO say that in the construction OF its
main lines and stations IL Is believed TO have re-
strtcted itself to its lawfully acquired privileges,
and that It's service partaKes Of that minuteness
OF care and attention to the comfort and safety OF
passengers which Is so marked feature In the
railway system OF which 1t forms a portion;
is not tSe % Streets ~ mott au
thorlzed by law, In the extension and multiplied
ton OF side tracks and switches and in particular
In the unlawful use and occupation OF the public
streets as freight and storage yards, to the OBJ
struction OF public travel and the great detrment
ana ahn3yanee q private rghtsths road has ex
own interests disregard OF those OF Others and the
violation OF public rights. which large business cor
the absence of watchfuness, and needful restrain
Ing influences.
THE UNNECESSARY BURDENS
imposed upon the public, by both these wealthy
corporations, have long been the cause OF earnest
protest, and have led to frequent and urgent ap-
peaS TO Congress for redress the part OF the Dis
trtct government and Others From time to time,
plans have been prepared and submitted for the
better adjustment OF the railway systems to
the public need, but as yet no step OF import
ance has been taken, and the interests OF the Dis
trict continue to suffer in yearly increasing meas
ure; IL L. believed that Congress IS now prepared
such final order upon the subject, as whole. as
snail best subserve the public interests and allay
so far as may be all legitimate grievances.
THE PROPER LOCATION.
The Commissioners have carefully prepared their
views as TO the proper location OF the railway lines
for the consideration OF the Senate committee and
have indicated them upon the map accompanying
this report 1t Is understood that the Baltimore and
Potomac road Is content with its present advan-
tons. The Baltimore and Ohio manaeers, on the
other hand, are aware OF the disadvantages OF
their lines, both TO public interest and their own
II compromising facilities can be obtained. An I'm
portant point TO them Is to secure Southern
connection and equal passenger and freight &C
cOmmOdatt0nS with the other lines Of road,
and they aver, and with manifest sincerity, their
willingness TO sacrifice much OF their present hold
ings and TO spend large sums in the necessary con-
sIfucIions for the accomplishment of those pur
poses. How far recent changes in the financial az
fairs and management OF the company may affect
this matter IL is inexpedient TO discuss since in any
case probably, thefuture only can reveal this and
In the end Congress Is the Judge and will make Its
ueclslCno independently OF elJner nValreS or anil
atoms The proposition recently made by the ac-
complished Chief engineer OF the Baltimore and
Ohio Is the construction OF line from the
Metropolitan Branch, just outside Boundary down
I'd street east entering tunnel at I'd and streets
northeast. emerging therefrom at street
sousn tnence ,M Wes.watdiy snrougn
on Virginia avenue, and proceed to such station
as should be established for the joint OF the
two roads. with the privilege OF continuing across
Long Bridge. Other features or this project are
the retention OF the present line OF the Washing
ton Branch, between boundary and I'd streets or
the alternative connection OF the two branches
by line just outside Boundary. The Commits
sioners are in accord with this proposition so far
as relates TO the establishment OF union station
and the securing OF a Southern connection and
equal facilities, but dissent from the details
judging II ineXpedent TO construct a trunk line OF
Railway In sdch close proximity TO the Capitol and
the Library now building, and Directing strongly
10 the retention OF any portion Of the Washington
Branch or the construction OF a connecting line
near Boundary, well as 10 the numerous trade
crossings On north I'd street from 10 and
Boundary.
WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS PROPOSE
They believe, on the contrary that MOTH
ing less than the entire abandonment OF the
present Baltimore and Ohio lines within the bound
airy and partly exterior thereto will suffice TO meet
the requirements OF the case. and that as a broad
proposition the railway business within the city
limits should be mainly confined TO south " ash.
ington and the vicinity OF the harbor front.
For this purpose they would prefer to take up
all the tracks OF the Baltimore and Ohio within the
Boundary; TO connect the two branches by a
route passing northward OF Ivy City and the
National Fair Grounds, and thereafter to abandon
also that portion OF the Metropolitan Branch lying
southwark Of the point OF Junction; to defect the
Washington Branch at point outside Boundary
down 11th street east, entering tunnel between
y and Il streets north, so continuing southwark
swinging westwardly so as TO emerge upon X
street south, side BY side with the Baltimore and
Potomac, and thence continuing, In c0njunctiOn
| with that road, TO Long Bridge BY such route as
/ shall be determined
THE ELKvRNTH STRICT LINE
has several advantageous features It leaves the
washington Branch at . favorable point and fol-
lows natural depression until tue sharp rise
north OF street Is reached and the tunnel begins
Inc intervening space on 18th street II almost un-
improved and the line crosses but I'VE streets VIZ
q, n. i, and Boundary. approximately at grade.
AT the southwest end OF the tunnel no new grade
| crossings are needfuL Ample opportunity Ia
onered for the construction OF freight and passen-
ger stations In the Immediate vicinity OF the
| line, just outside OF Boundary, upon the
grounds lying eastward Of the Columbia Asylum
| Tor the Deaf and Dumb, and the removal OF the
present Baltimore and Ohio tracks from Delaware
avenue, LIST and streets Will admit of the laying
out OF an extension OF Louisl ana avenue from the
intersection OF North Capitol street and Massachu-
| sets avenue TO and Boundary, directly 70 the
north Baltimore and Ohio station. A glance ai
the map OF the city will show that the PARALLEL
gram founded BY New York, Massachusetts, and
Maryland avenues and Boundary street u less sub
divioed oy diagonal avenues than any other, and
the extension OF Louisiana avenue from North
Capitol TO Boundary would separate II advantage